UK Watchdog Says Cameron Accepts Guidelines to Protect Journalists Data

The Interception of Communications Commissioner's Office (IOCCO) reported that British police used anti-terror laws to obtain the confidential sources of journalists. Prime Minister David Cameron and Home Secretary Theresa May accepted the recommendations, the watchdog's head said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — British Prime Minister David Cameron has accepted recommendations from the Interception of Communications Commissioner's Office (IOCCO) on the protection of reporters’ communications data, IOCCO head Jo Cavan told Sputnik on Thursday.

“We are pleased that the prime minister and home secretary have accepted our recommendations. It is now up to the Home Office to decide on the best way to implement the recommendations,” Cavan said.

Very pleased the Prime Minister has accepted our inquiry recc re judicial authority for comms data requests to protect journalistic sources

— iocco (@iocco_oversight) 4 февраля 2015

The Home Secretary Theresa May says she accepts the @iocco_oversight report: "I welcome his recommendations, which I accept in full"

— Daniel Sandford (@BBCDanielS) 4 февраля 2015

The recommendations were outlined in the IOCCO report published Wednesday, which says that British police used anti-terror laws to make over 600 applications over a three-year period to obtain the confidential sources of journalists.

In the report, the IOCCO recommended that police forces seek permission from a judge if they want to retrieve the communications data of journalists.

“Our recommendations certainly do not mean that RIPA [Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000] is now redundant. Our inquiry was only in relation to Chapter 2 of Part 1 of RIPA [regarding communications data] and we concluded the safeguards are not sufficient with regard to the small number of instances where communications data is acquired specifically to identify journalistic sources,” Cavan added.

The IOCCO is an independent watchdog that reviews the interception of communications and the disclosure of communications data together with RIPA. It prepares a report for the British prime minister every six months.